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Platini confirms Ukraine's right to host Euro 2012

UEFA president Michel Platini has confirmed that the Euro 2012 championship will go ahead as planned in Poland and Ukraine, though construction delays mean no decision has been reached on which cities will host the matches.

REUTERS - UEFA president Michel Platini has calmed fears Ukraine could lose the right to jointly host Euro2012 over doubts about whether its Olympic Stadium will be ready in time.

Platini is visiting Ukraine and co-hosts Poland on Wednesday and Thursday to assess preparations after previously criticising sluggish work progress and warning the two countries risked losing the tournament.

"It will be impossible for Ukraine to lose the championship," Platini told reporters.

"I have listened to the guarantees of the Ukrainian government and I feel the stadium will be ready by 2011. I don't think there are any concerns about that."

Legal wrangling over the demolition of a shopping centre adjacent to Kiev's Olympic Stadium delayed work for more than six months.

Elsewhere, the western city of Lviv has had problems finding designers and contractors for its stadium.

The rush to build motorways, extra airport terminals and enough hotels to accommodate tens of thousands of fans has also been a worry for Ukraine.

There has been media speculation, mainly in Ukraine and Poland, that European soccer's governing body UEFA is looking at possible alternatives as championship hosts but Platini routinely says there is no "plan B". Next month UEFA decides which cities will stage the matches.